Riga

After Tallinn it is time to move south. A half days trip from Tallinn you will find Riga, aka the pearl of the Baltics, and the well-known spa resort Jurmala as well as other Latvian cities.

With 660 000 population Riga is the largest city in the Baltics. The historic and medieval city centre in Riga at the Daugava River is a Unesco World Heritage Site. The city is also well-known for the magnificent art nouveau and Jugendstil buildings. From Riga it is only 25 km to the popular spa and beach resort Jurmala.  

The old hanseatic city Riga is famous for, among others, its medieval old town. One of the landmarks is for example the House of the Blackheads – Melngalvju nams – its history dating back to the 14th century. The historic centre of Riga is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

Riga is a junction of cultures, and the city has numerous interesting museums, art galleries and exhibitions, concerts and festivals. The junction of cultures has also lead to a great number of diverse restaurants, bars and cafés.  Riga also has invigorating leafy parks. 

Riga is one of the better preserved large hanseatic cities. The capital of Latvia was in the 19th century a wealthy and busy trade centre that could afford expensive architects. In addition to the old town, the jugend and art nouveau houses are wonderful. There are more than 800 jugend buildings. Art nouveau architecture is most visible on Albert street and in the embassies area nearby.

Get a good peek at the ordinary life in Latvia at the Riga market square. It is one of the busiest trading places in the city and has more than 160 000 visitors a day. The huge Zeppelin airship hangars have it all: meat, fish, cheese, nuts, dried fruits and knick-knacks – a perfect place to buy local delicacies.  

A monument to freedom, an obelisk made of granite and copper, has stood in the center of Riga for about 100 years. It was built with public donations in memory of those who died in the Latvian War of Independence and is 42,7 meters high. At the top of the obelisk is a 9-meter tall statue of the Goddess of Liberty, Milda, holding 3 stars in her hands. They symbolize Latvia's historical provinces and national unity.

At the wonderful Riga zoo you can see giraffes, a hippopotamus and 3 000 other animals, including insects and invertebrates. The twenty hectares houses 405 different species. In between, take a spin at the merry-go-round. The zoo is open all year round.

Riga Zoo

When you start craving sea air, head to unique Jurmala. It's about half an hour away from Riga by car or train. The train ticket costs about a couple of euros. When traveling by train, get off at Majori station. The main street Jomas iela starts almost from the station platform, along which the small town atmosphere is at its best: small shops, cafes next door and villas in the background. From there you can also get to the beach, about 30 kilometers long - the view is surprising and can even be unreal. Jurmala is not called the Latvian Riviera for a reason. If the weather doesn't favor being at the beach, visit Livu Aquapark, the largest water park in the Baltics.